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Colorado Springs area gets 3 inches of snow, icy roads, delays

By: andrea sinclair andrea.sinclair@gazette.com

January 23, 2014Updated: January 23, 2014 at 10:32 am

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JP Fix It worker John Swift uses a snow blower to clear about three inches of snow that fell overnight from the parking lot of Redeemer Lutheran Church Thursday, January 23, 2014. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette

Most of Colorado Springs woke up to about three inches of snow and icy roads Thursday after a winter weather system swept down from the north, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow totals around the Colorado Springs Airport measured at three inches by 8 a.m., meteorologist Randy Gray said. Spotters in Peterson Air Force Base, Fountain and southern Colorado Springs reported three inches of snow accumulation also. About two inches fell over Black Forest, according to the weather service.

Even as dry conditions kept the snow fluffy, recent warm temperatures caused the snow to melt upon hitting the ground, freezing over and covering city roadways with ice.

"The snow really picked up intensity around 2 a.m. and then let up around 4 a.m., but it melted and then froze over because the temperatures were so low, covering the city with ice," said City Streets operations manager Dave Scalfri. "We have been using liquid anti-icing on the roads, which we found to be successful."

Schools in Falcon District 49 and Cheyenne Mountain District 12 were among the first to go on two-hour delays Thursday morning. Schools in the Academy 20, Colorado Springs 11 and Manitou Springs 14 districts also are on two-hour delays.